Tell me about the Munchen Oktoberfest.
Discussion
Accommodation becomes bloody expensive!
If you can't prebook seats at tables, you'll have to arrive early doors (like 7am?) queue and get in to tents. Once you're in one basically forget about going to another one!
The roast chickens are delicious
If you see any trouble or a fight break out don't stand around watching, move away from the area, security come running (all in little funny outfits blowing their whistles!) and sweep everyone in the vicinity straight out, and that's it, game over.
Overall, it's awesome!
If you can't prebook seats at tables, you'll have to arrive early doors (like 7am?) queue and get in to tents. Once you're in one basically forget about going to another one!
The roast chickens are delicious
If you see any trouble or a fight break out don't stand around watching, move away from the area, security come running (all in little funny outfits blowing their whistles!) and sweep everyone in the vicinity straight out, and that's it, game over.
Overall, it's awesome!
HotJambalaya is spot on, get there ridiculously early, get a spot and stay put.
I think it's something that should be on everyone's bucket list and it most definitely is awesome.
The pretzels are bloody marvellous too and do a great job of soaking up beer.
Don't plan much for the following day!
I think it's something that should be on everyone's bucket list and it most definitely is awesome.
The pretzels are bloody marvellous too and do a great job of soaking up beer.
Don't plan much for the following day!
So. Oktoberfest.
Best bet is to do a search - there's been a few posts in the past.
I'm heading over this year for the 3rd time so am getting on for an almost veteran. Some pointers.
Best bet is to do a search - there's been a few posts in the past.
I'm heading over this year for the 3rd time so am getting on for an almost veteran. Some pointers.
- Accommodation - this gets booked well in advance. Latest I've ever left it is February. Prices are expensive - a crap hotel by the Hauptbahnhoff is costing me around £200/night this year. Do some research into this.
- Beer prices - I tend to go in a group of 4. We joke that 50EUR notes are beer tokens. It's usually ~10ish EUR a beer from what I remember.
- Beer strength - it's usually 5.5-6%. Writes you off pretty easily - especially if you start drinking early!
- Beer steins - they're pretty strong, but will break.
- Food - the food is usually good. I like the roast chicken.
- Security - watch out for them. If people are causing aggro - get away. I saw them beat someone with nightsticks a few years ago.
- Rides - avoid the helter skelter with the travelator. It runs at 10mph or so and it hurts when you fall off it after too many beers.
- Getting to tables - you can book, but the minimum spend is usually ~1000EUR. Also, they tend to be less busy. I get there early - before 9am at weekends, before 10am in the week and get a table without too much trouble. Never had to queue to get into the tent, but then I don't try going in mid afternoon/evening! Once I'm in, I tend to stick to the tent. Tents vary - I quite like Schottenhamel and the Paulaner tent.
- The following day - get up early, eat breakfast if your stomach will take it, head to Oktoberfest! Continue until it's time to leave Munich.
I went in 1988 at the end of an Interrail month around Europe with a mate of mine when a student :-)
Arrived Munich, found campsite, pitched tent...found our way into centre and the "fest.
Enter beer tent, start drinking, oompah band, drink, dance etc etc
Woke up the next morning back in our tent at the campsite with little recollection of the last 12 hours or how I got back to ... or in the tent :-)
Autopilot when drunk as a student was a wonderful thing. Would love to go back as an "adult" :-)
Arrived Munich, found campsite, pitched tent...found our way into centre and the "fest.
Enter beer tent, start drinking, oompah band, drink, dance etc etc
Woke up the next morning back in our tent at the campsite with little recollection of the last 12 hours or how I got back to ... or in the tent :-)
Autopilot when drunk as a student was a wonderful thing. Would love to go back as an "adult" :-)
Edited by Steve Campbell on Thursday 10th April 16:57
And remember, it's not in October! 
I went a couple of times in the mid-90s.
We usually went with a group who had a table, even then it was a big expense. The beer's good, but there's a lot of head (ooooh err missus), so you're not drinking as much as you think, although it's fairly strong, so I guess it's easy to overdo it!
I can't remember which tent was always referred to as the 'Australian Tent', because (I was told) they'd taken out all the tables, because Australians tended to tip them over later in the evening. It might be the Hofbrauhaus one and, of course, it might have all changed in nigh on 20 years!
Definitely an experience and, for the most part, an enjoyable one, but don't skip seeing the rest of Munich while you're there, it's a great city.
M.
I went a couple of times in the mid-90s.
We usually went with a group who had a table, even then it was a big expense. The beer's good, but there's a lot of head (ooooh err missus), so you're not drinking as much as you think, although it's fairly strong, so I guess it's easy to overdo it!
I can't remember which tent was always referred to as the 'Australian Tent', because (I was told) they'd taken out all the tables, because Australians tended to tip them over later in the evening. It might be the Hofbrauhaus one and, of course, it might have all changed in nigh on 20 years!
Definitely an experience and, for the most part, an enjoyable one, but don't skip seeing the rest of Munich while you're there, it's a great city.
M.
The australian tent is also where they have/call the pig pen, the only tent where there is an open space no seats/tables.
Haufbrau, Pauliner, Hacker tents all good. Had a good time in the Lowenbrau tent last time but when we told some Germans the next day they were horrified we went there, not the done thing for them.
Have to be there by mid day atvthe lastest to find a seat, as has been said stay there for 12 hours, shovel chicken, pork knuckles and pretzels in and wash down with loads of steins.
Some how you manage to get up in the morning and do it all over again, you really don't get much of a hangover, just feel slightly jaded for a while before a few cups of tea/coffee.
Once upon a time it was known that the second weekend was the time when the Italians would descend upon the place, they are a PITA, normally causing problems by pushing in on tables to get places,etc.
Very rarely seen any trouble, everybodys too pissed, amazing how many nationalities are there all getting on together, a lovely sight.
And who says its not in October ?! Starts in September, ends in October, one hell of a party !!
Haufbrau, Pauliner, Hacker tents all good. Had a good time in the Lowenbrau tent last time but when we told some Germans the next day they were horrified we went there, not the done thing for them.
Have to be there by mid day atvthe lastest to find a seat, as has been said stay there for 12 hours, shovel chicken, pork knuckles and pretzels in and wash down with loads of steins.
Some how you manage to get up in the morning and do it all over again, you really don't get much of a hangover, just feel slightly jaded for a while before a few cups of tea/coffee.
Once upon a time it was known that the second weekend was the time when the Italians would descend upon the place, they are a PITA, normally causing problems by pushing in on tables to get places,etc.
Very rarely seen any trouble, everybodys too pissed, amazing how many nationalities are there all getting on together, a lovely sight.
And who says its not in October ?! Starts in September, ends in October, one hell of a party !!
Oh and accomodation hasn't been that bad, well price wise anyway, normally found a bed for the night for 40-50 euros close to the station. Last time i went it did smell as though someone had been sick on the landing outside the room though, think it was the last weekend of the fest so the rooms had been well used 
Just under 10 euros a stein so not bad really for some bloody good tasting beer !!
Just under 10 euros a stein so not bad really for some bloody good tasting beer !!
Asterix said:
Wife's 40th this year and we thought we'd do 10-14 days visiting Vienna, Prague and Munich. We'd like to base it around the Oktoberfest.
Haven't been before so any advice or tips to making the most of it, accommodation etc.. would be most appreciated.
Prost!
As mentioned above, great fun. Haven't been before so any advice or tips to making the most of it, accommodation etc.. would be most appreciated.
Prost!
There are also spaces outside the tents which don't need booking in advance or queueing. There's a great atmosphere. Basically, drink beer, eat meat, flirt with frauleins. Win win.
Well - the bad news is that it's not going to happen, this year at least. Work has thrown a spanner in the works as it looks like I'm going to be touring from the end of July through to the end of October.
In a way, it's a good thing. I was getting the feeling that I'd already it too late and the lack of hotel availability has backed this up.
I'll plan it in January next year.
Thanks for all your help chaps.
In a way, it's a good thing. I was getting the feeling that I'd already it too late and the lack of hotel availability has backed this up.
I'll plan it in January next year.
Thanks for all your help chaps.
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